Hillsboro recorder., 1887-12-01
RED TAPE METHODS.


Senator CockreIl's report on the meth
odsof tFansacting business with the Gov.
crnment will contain a recommendation
to curtaii some OF the official correspon.
dcncc, which TO many Of the bureau Of
ficers, now appears unnecessary. For ex-
ample: collector OF customs recently
had occasion to repair lock upon one OF
the doors Of his office. A lOcksmith was
summoned aHd il was found that the
Necessary repairs would require an out
las Of fifteen cents. The collector was
Obliged, according 20 the usual practices
10 write letter 10 the Secretary OF the
Treasury requesting permission 10 make
the expenditure. The receipt Of the let
Ter BY the department had 10 be acknowl-
edged aud authority given to repair the
br0kenlock. The voucher Of the locksmith
had to be forwarded 10 the department,
aud aflcr IL passed through the regular
channels, a warrant for fifteen cents was
drawn, signed and returned to the per-
son in whose name il was made out. In
this instance eight cents was expended
for postage stamps in addition to the
stationery used TO carry on the cores
pondcnce, giving official sanction for the
repairing Of lock. The red tape
method probably brought the cost UP to
si5.
SECTION moss Gs A SCIENTIST.
How ignorant man can be and yet
pass a. a scientist Is astonishing. ANN
held one Of the scientific positions in the
gift OF the Government for number Of
wears. and still holds II because his berth
Il one of the favored few exempted from
inspection. Ills only qualification for
the place at the time 0f his appointment
was that he had served rs q section boss
ON Michigan railway. On his arrival
lie Immediately asserted himself and
wished 10 impress upon his clerks that
their relations should be exactly those he
held with the pick and shovel artists 10
Michigan. lie has since regarded every
unfortunate Government employe under
his supervision as a thief and has accused
them 81 making away with chairs and
even dcsks. lie thinks Tint his
.'hands," rs he calls his clerks, are
cheating the Government out Of
lime. lie could not refrain from
displaying his authority short
time auo, however, and issued list Of
cast iron rul"s to gnvera the conduct Of
bis hands" The rules were In his own
handwriting. aid surh ignorance Of Eng
lish did he display as tu make some Ofhis
labofofs feel most sad. Il will tot be
necessary To rive the entire set Of iulcs.
One will bc sufficient as an example 0f
ihc remarkable bfiiliancy of the scientist.
"Thc clerks In this loom will be allowed
q half hour for his or hers lunch.
The Others will be allowed u half
hour 10 20 out or stay in." How to
obey such an oder Is question
the "handsn have not yet determined.
The rules haye served one good purpose
they have uccasioncd many hearty laugh.
at the expense d tho writer
sF MOTIFS.
The Acting Secretary of the Treasury
has appointed the following store
keepers and guagrrs: John ll~lohnsOn,
James r.. Anderson aud =. II. Lazeuby,
ii Tie Fifth district nf North Carolina,
The Acting Secretary Of the Treasury
has appointed the following store.
keepers and guagcrs: John II. johnson,
JAMES u. Anderson aud +. II. Lazcnby,
~ The Fifth district II North Carolina.
Cardinal Gibbons made short isil 70
The President n the White House. lie
was accompanied by Marshal Wilson.
AcLinr Hrefffnfr 1'lininnsnn tna nresn,li